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The Cleveland Indians signed free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn to a four-year, $48 million
contract, with a $12 million club option for a fifth year.

The signing of Bourn, who must pass a physical, continues general manager Chris Antonetti’s
relentless reshaping of the Indians since the end of the 2012 season.

Bourn is the second big free-agent signing of the winter by Antonetti. In December, he signed
Nick Swisher to a four-year, $56 million deal. That means the Dolan family has spent $104 million
on two free agents this winter.

The signing of Bourn will cost the Indians their competitive-balance lottery pick between the
second and third rounds of the June draft.

Swisher’s signing cost the Indians their second pick, but their first-round pick is intact, and
so is their regular third-round pick.

The addition of Bourn, a center fielder/leadoff hitter, could allow the Indians to move Swisher
to first base, Mark Reynolds to designated hitter and employ a swift outfield of Michael Brantley,
Drew Stubbs and Bourn. Last year, Bourn played 153 games in center field.

— The Plain Dealer

NOTABLE

• Outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a one-year contract for $7.375
million. Choo made $4.9 million last season with the Indians, who traded him to the Reds as part of
a three-team deal in December.

The Reds plan to start him in center field in place of Stubbs — who went to the Indians — and
bat him leadoff.

• Los Angeles Angels right-handed closer Ryan Madson, who was on the Reds’ roster last year, has
elbow soreness in his rehabilitation from reconstructive surgery.

Madson, who hasn’t pitched since 2011, said that he suffered a setback while throwing on Feb. 1
.